Faculty & Subject Teachers
Early Childhood Faculty
Martie Fine
Apple Blossom Preschool Teacher
Martie holds a bachelor's degree in english from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and completed her Waldorf teaching certificate at The West Coast Institute for Studies in Anthroposophy in Vancouver, Canada. She also has multiple college credits in the Human Development and Early Childhood fields. In 2000, Martie was the founding teacher for the Nevada Sage Waldorf School and helped to develop their early childhood program. Having worked with young children and their families for over 23 years in both Waldorf and mainstream settings, Martie is thrilled to be a part of the family at Camellia Waldorf.
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Ms. Marty joined Camellia in 2022.
Contact Marty Fine: Mfine@camelliawaldorf.org
Barbara Weiler
Apple Blossom Preschool Teacher
Barbara has a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has 15 units of early childhood education from her University studies and has been taking additional early childhood education courses in 2023 through community college to refresh her knowledge. She is currently enrolled in Waldorf Teacher Training through the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training. Barbara attended the Sacramento Waldorf School in Fair Oaks from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. She is very excited to be joining the Camellia Waldorf School community.
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Ms. Barbara joined Camellia in 2023.
Contact Barbara Weiler: bweiler@camelliawaldorf.org
Shannon Leigh
Orange Blossom Preschool Teacher
Shannon Leigh holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Jacksonville University in Florida, and a master’s degree in organic chemistry from the University of California at Davis. Shannon received her Waldorf early childhood teaching certificate from Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle, Washington and also has 15 units of Early Childhood education.
Ms. Shannon has over 12 years of teaching experience, working in both the grades and early childhood - preschool and kindergarten and was the founding teacher of Camellia's summer program.
Ms. Shannon joined Camellia in 2012.
Contact Shannon Leigh: sleigh@camelliawaldorf.org
Megan Ferrian
Orange Blossom Preschool Assistant
Ms. Megan studied child development at Sacramento City College, where she earned 15 units in Early Childhood Education, gaining deep insight and knowledge into preschool-aged children. With several years of experience in working with young children, Megan joined Camellia in 2021, teaching in Camellia’s Summer Camp and Preschool Extended Care programs, before taking a position as an assistant in the Orange Blossom Preschool class. As a class assistant, she values the hands-on aspect of Waldorf Pedagogy and looks forward to expanding her knowledge by pursuing Waldorf teacher training in the future.
When Megan is not in the classroom, she finds joy in discovering new vegan recipes, exploring nature and finding treasures in local thrift stores.
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Ms. Megan joined Camellia in 2021.
Contact Megan Ferrian: Mferrian@camelliawaldorf.org
Olga Morozova
Lavender Kindergarten Teacher
Olga Morozova has a master’s degree in psychology from State Pedagogical University in Russia and received her Waldorf early childhood teaching certificate from Rudolf Steiner College. Ms. Olga has lived throughout the world, teaching in Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. She has teaching experience in both formal and informal settings with both children and adults.
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Ms. Olga joined Camellia in 2016.
Contact Olga Morozova: omorozova@camelliawaldorf.org
Catalina Soliman
Lavendar Kindergarten Assistant
A former Waldorf student herself, Ms. Catalina attended the Waldorf school in Iasi, for grades 1through 12, and went on to complete three years of early childhood studies at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, Romania. While at university, she studied different teaching methods, including Waldorf, Montessori and traditional primary education in Romania. Following her time at university, Ms. Catalina taught preschool and grades 1-4, eventually finding her way back to Waldorf education when she was offered a kindergarten teacher assistant position at Edinburgh Steiner School in Scotland. While there, she felt back at home and had the opportunity to work, study, and research amongst other anthroposophical therapists.
In her spare time, Catalina enjoys artistic activities like drawing, singing, painting; spending time with family, and traveling. She also wrote, illustrated, and published two children’s books.
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Ms. Catalina joined Camellia in 2021
Contact Catalina Soliman: csoliman@camelliawaldorf.org
Courtney Wilson
Sunflower Kindergarten Teacher
Courtney Wilson holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and religious studies from Eastern University, a master's degree in art history from American University, and an Art of Teaching Certificate from the Gradalis Waldorf Teacher Education Program. Additionally, Ms. Courtney has her Waldorf early childhood teacher certificate from Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle, Washington.
Ms. Courtney has been a teacher for over nine years, including seven years in Waldorf schools as a kindergarten teacher, grades class teacher and subject teacher. In 2007, Ms. Courtney and her husband, Joshua, helped to found Escuela Caracol, Guatemala’s first Waldorf school. Ms. Courtney founded the kindergarten and taught in Spanish and English there for several years.
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Early childhood education has always been close to Ms. Courtney's heart. She is a storyteller with a profound love of nature which she strives to bring to her classroom in innovative ways.
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Ms. Courtney joined Camellia in 2021.
Contact Courtney Wilson: cwilson@camelliawaldorf.org
Kelly Maroney
Sunflower Kindergarten Assistant
Kelly Maroney brings with her years of childcare experience and is enrolled in early childhood education courses, helping to grow her knowledge of child development. Ms. Kelly has long been interested in alternative educational approaches and was introduced to Waldorf education in 2022 when she joined Camellia’s extended care program. During her time at Camellia, she has had the opportunity to witness the warm and magical nature of Waldorf education, especially in early childhood.
As her knowledge and love of Waldorf education continue to deepen and blossom she is thankful for the opportunity to work with Camellia's kindergarten children and considers Camellia a second home.
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Ms. Kelly joined Camellia in 2022
Contact Kelly Maroney: kmoroney@camelliawaldorf.org
Elementary and Middle School Faculty
Britt Trollip
First Grade Teacher
Ms. Trollip has been working in education for over 10 years, since graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2012. She has a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, with a Health Education specialization, as well as a California Education Specialist Credential with added authorizations in autism and teaching English-language learners. Ms. Trollip has a strong background in literacy and specializes in working with students with learning differences. She discovered Waldorf education when she had her first child, almost five years ago and through that discovery, her knowledge and love of Waldorf education grew, both as a parent and educator, leading her to Camellia Waldorf School in the Spring of 2022.
When Ms. Trollip is outside of the classroom, she loves to be in nature! She spends her summers exploring the great outdoors; some of her best adventures have been riding her bike around Iceland, au pairing in France, doing a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail, visiting her husband’s family in South Africa, or riding her bike down the length of Eastern Europe. Her two personal rules for life are: one must always stop at lemonade stands and one must always jump at an opportunity to swim in wild water. On the weekends you will find her working in her garden or camping with her family, including her two daughters - one a Camellia kindergarten student and the other a future Camellia student!
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Ms. Trollip joined Camellia in 2023
Contact Britt Trollip: btrollip@camelliawaldorf.org
Shane Jewell
Second Grade Teacher
Shane Jewell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, with concentrations in physics, mathematics, and environmental studies and has completed an International Honors Program in the study of climate change, economics, anthropology, social justice, and sustainable development. Mr. Jewell earned his Waldorf teaching certificate from Sound Circle Center for Arts and Anthroposophy in Seattle, Washington.
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Mr. Jewell joined the Camellia faculty in 2021 teaching Choir and Middle School Math and has quickly become a beloved member of our community. With over 20 years of teaching experience, including ten years as a Waldorf teacher, Mr. Jewell has taught both in the grades and at the high school level. Mr. Jewell grew up attending Waldorf schools as the child of two Waldorf teachers. In addition, Mr. Jewell is the founder and musical director of a choral ensemble, has hiked 1,000 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, bicycled more than 100,000 miles in countries around the world, and is passionate about sustainable living and organic farming.
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Mr. Jewell joined Camellia in 2021.
Contact Shane Jewell: sjewell@camelliawaldorf.org
Denis Fitts
Third Grade Teacher
Denis Fitts grew up in the Bay Area and has taught in Waldorf schools for over 40 years. He received his Waldorf Teacher Certificate and BA in Waldorf Education from Rudolf Steiner College in 1981. Denis was the founding teacher of Portland Waldorf School, where he brought his first class through the grades beginning in 1982. He began teaching at Sacramento Waldorf School in 1990, leading three lower school classes through the grades as well as teaching mathematics for six years in the high school. Additionally, he was an adjunct faculty member for many years in the summer Teacher Education Program at Rudolf Steiner College. He recently taught at Live Oak Waldorf School for three years in grades 6 through 8.
Denis has four children, all of whom are Waldorf graduates. In addition to his family, Denis' special joys are paragliding, music, camping, and traveling.
Mr. Fitts joined Camellia in 2023
Contact Denis Fitts: dfitts@camelliawaldorf.org
Elijah Egbert
Fourth Grade Teacher
Elijah Egbert has a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric from the University of California Berkeley and studied Philosophy at Sacramento City College. Mr. Egbert was a Waldorf student himself, attending Camellia Waldorf School through 8th grade, then completing high school at Sacramento Waldorf School. He joined the Camellia faculty for the 2020-21 school year as a grades assistant teacher and substitute, where he gained a deep appreciation for the teaching side of Waldorf education. The following year he returned as a class teacher and began training with a longtime Anthroposophic Pediatrician and Waldorf teacher educator, Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna.
Additionally, Elijah is a music educator and has taught in a variety of education-related positions, most recently at Art Beast, helping to enrich their language-arts program through storytelling, theatre arts and Eurythmy, all inspired by his life-long knowledge of Waldorf education.
Mr. Egbert joined Camellia in 2021
Contact Elijah Egbert: eegbert@camelliawaldorf.org
Amber Fitts
Fifth Grade Teacher
Amber Fitts earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. In 2010, she earned certificates in Waldorf education and Eurythmy from Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California.
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Ms. Fitts taught Camellia’s class of 2018 from first through eighth grade, and has been a member of the faculty leadership team since 2014. Currently, she is delighted to be on the journey with the class of 2027 which she began teaching in first grade.
Ms. Fitts’ passions are in the movement arts: yoga, eurythmy, modern dance, folk dance, and ballet. She also enjoys spending time in nature, and cultivates an active interest in world travel and cultures, having ventured through Taiwan, Thailand, the Yucatan, Ireland, Peru, Italy, and Switzerland, as well as many of America’s national parks. In 2022, Ms. Fitts and her husband became proud adoptive parents, welcoming home their teenage son from Taiwan.
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Ms. Fitts Joined Camellia in 2010
Hanna Schaffer
Sixth Grade Teacher
Hanna Schaffer has a bachelor’s degree in theater, which she earned from California State Universities Fresno and Sacramento. She earned her Waldorf teaching certificate from Waldorf Teacher Education Eugene (WTEE), in Eugene, Oregon. Before coming to Camellia, Ms. Schaffer taught elementary and middle school at Cedar Springs Waldorf School. She has also taught in a variety of education-related positions including ceramics and theater and as a literacy tutor. Working with children has always been her passion, and Ms. Schaffer is delighted to be a teacher at Camellia.
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Ms. Schaffer joined Camellia in 2018
Contact Hanna Schaffer: hschaffer@camelliawaldorf.org
Josh Amaral
Seventh Grade Teacher
Josh Amaral has a bachelor’s degree in English with a focus on grammar and composition from California State University Chico. More recently, he earned a master’s degree in teaching from the University of San Francisco and has California single subject teaching credentials in English and social science. Before relocating to Sacramento, Mr. Amaral taught in Chico area charter schools, where he worked with all age groups in kindergarten to 12th grade.
Mr. Amaral is an avid performer with an appreciation for live theater, music, creative writing, and the arts. He served as a youth instructor for the Chico Theater Company for four years, during which he participated in more than six youth productions and nearly twenty main stage productions. He also plays numerous instruments and is a firm believer in the power of rhythm and melody and their effect on the growing mind. Mr. Amaral enjoys photography in its many forms, painting, writing poetry and short stories, and reading classic fiction.
Mr. Amaral joined Camellia in 2017
Contact Josh Amaral: jamaral@camelliawaldorf.org
Sarah Casebeer
Eighth Grade Teacher
Sarah Casebeer has a bachelor’s degree in women’s studies from the University of New Hampshire and earned her Waldorf teacher certificate from the Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training.
A Camellia parent for more than 13 years, Ms. Casebeer taught Camellia’s class of 2017 and has also been a substitute teacher and an assistant teacher in kindergarten at Camellia.
Ms. Casebeer Joined Camellia in 2009
Contact Sarah Casebeer: scasebeer@camelliawaldorf.org
Subject Teachers
Grades 1st through 8th begin each day with their class teacher, in main lesson, followed by subject classes. These classes include Movement, Spanish, Woodworking, Gardening, Handwork, Strings, Guitar and Choir. While Main Lesson provides an in-depth exploration of subjects in blocks of four to six weeks, subject classes run throughout the year.
Carmen Gunn
Movement & Gardening Teacher
Carmen Gunn is a graduate of the Spacial Dynamics Institute and earned her associate’s degree in physical science from the Collegio Alessandro Manzoni in Monza, Italy. Ms. Gunn is a certified personal trainer, strength coach, group fitness instructor, and archery instructor. She is also certified in pilates and yoga. Before joining Camellia’s faculty, Ms. Gunn had worked for 20 years as a teacher in the health and fitness industry.
In her role as gardening teacher, Ms. Gunn leads elementary and middle school students in planting, growing and harvesting fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers, and in building projects and campus care.
Ms. Gunn is a parent of two Camellia alumni students.
Ms. Gunn joined Camellia in 2010.
Contact Carmen Gunn: cgunn@camelliawaldorf.org
Timothy Stanley
Strings Teacher & Ensemble
Timothy Stanley has a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Nevada and a master’s degree in music from California State University Sacramento. Mr. Stanley is a senior teacher with the Sacramento State String Project, a not-for-profit that provides low cost music instruction to Sacramento elementary school children. He also teaches private music lessons in Sacramento and Davis.
As a performer, Mr. Stanley plays cello with numerous local symphonies and orchestras as well as area baroque ensembles. He is a founding member of City Water, a contemporary music ensemble, and Ensemble Confluences, a baroque quartet.
Mr. Stanley joined Camellia in 2008
Alice Stamm
Early Childhood Eurythmy
Early Childhood Eurythmy Teacher
Alice Stamm has been teaching eurythmy since 1975. She began her eurythmy training in Eckwalden, Germany, and finished at Else Klink in Stuttgart, Germany. Ms. Stamm also has a degree in therapeutic eurythmy from the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.
Having a wealth of experience in teaching and performing eurythmy in Europe and the United States, Ms. Stamm’s most recent positions include teaching eurythmy at Rudolf Steiner College, kindergarten eurythmy at Davis Waldorf School and professional mentoring of eurythmysts.
Ms. Stamm is the president and a founding member of the Eurythmy Association of North America. She also helped to form the Section Collegium for the Performing Arts in North America.
Hubert Bones
Woodworking Teacher
Hubert Bones is a craftsman and woodworker. He has always enjoyed volunteering his time, sharing his skills, and making projects for the school. As the Woodworking teacher, he enjoys working with students of all grades, bringing new projects and opportunities for learning and growth. When Mr. Bones is not teaching, he is working to keep the Camellia campus beautiful and healthy, creating and maintaining our incredible grounds, and making sure it is as beautiful as it can be for the children to enjoy.
Lulú Flores
Grades Spanish Teacher
Lulú holds a bachelor's degree in Nutrition from Universidad del Valle de Atemajac. In college, Lulú’s interest in child development and maternal health grew and after giving birth to her son, she became a Certified Lactation Educator and accredited La Leche League Leader. Maestra Lulú worked at the Mexican Consulate in San Jose, offering nutrition education for families, and later became coordinator of the Parents cook with Heart program with the Latino College Academy parents.
After attending the Waldorf en casa" with Oswaldo Alvarez Pedroza, a Mexican Waldorf teacher, Lulú fell in love with Waldorf education. Maestra Lulú continued on with The Art of Teaching Spanish the following summer and later a curriculum workshop for Waldorf Spanish teachers with Michelle Jarvis. Additionally, Maestra Lulú recently completed the Maternal and Child Nutrition Masters program at the University of California Davis. When Lulú isn’t teaching Spanish, you will find her spending time with her son and husband, singing, writing, playing the guitar, and dancing. She enjoys bike riding with her family, taking care of her quails, hiking, baking, and cooking homemade Mexican food.
Maestra Lulú joined Camellia in 2021
Contact Maestra Lulú : lflores@camelliawaldorf.org